Compactible Reusable Shopping Bag

ABSTRACT

A compactible reusable shopping bag devised to incentivize reuse is presented herein. The compactible reusable shopping bag is compactible down to a discrete, folded stack enabling ready storage and portage when not in use. The compactible reusable shopping bag is securable in the folded stack by securement of a pair of handles around the folded stack and, in an alternative embodiment, by action of fasteners. The compactible reusable shopping bag further includes handle loops enabling carriage of fewer items in the bag and attachment of a shoulder strap to enable over-the-shoulder carry when at capacity. The compactible reusable shopping bag is lightweight, capacious, and durable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This divisional application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser.No. 16/660,545 filed on 22 Oct. 2019

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Single-use plastic bags have become an environmental scourge. With manymunicipalities, counties, states, and even countries moving to bansingle-use plastic bags, or at least tax them to disincentivize theiruse, reusable bags for shopping are ever more popular.

Reusable bags seek to combine capacity with durability for repeated use,while remaining cost effective to produce and distribute. However, aninconvenience results where shoppers have to bring their own bags withthem on their shopping errands, or else buy a new reusable bag orsuccumb to using plastic again. Reusable shopping bags are typicallyleft in vehicles, therefore, often in an untidy heap or pile in thetrunk, in the footwells, or elsewhere in the vehicle. Such storageexposes bags to uneven wear and tear, diminishing their longevity, andcreates a messy appearance in the user's vehicle. Neither do reusablebags presently seen in the art store conveniently or compactly when notin use; rather, they are typically hung up by their handles from anelevated surface or projection or stuffed one inside another. Such asituation can make retrieving a particular bag hasslesome.

The present compactible reusable shopping bag, therefore, seeks toincentivize reuse by combining durable, lightweight materials into acompactly foldable form that is convenient for storage in a user'svehicle; such as tidily stored in the glovebox or seatback pocket, inother bags, or ported upon the person; or tidily stacked elsewhere inthe home or garage. The present compactible reusable shopping bagcombines lightweight durable materials and a foldable form that issecurable in a folded stack that is approximately less than an inchthick with a profile area of approximately one-third the area of one ofthe bag's longitudinal sides when the bag is deployed in an expandedposition. The present compactible reusable shopping bag further presentsthree novel modes of carriage, enabling versatility when portingdifferent quantities and different types of goods.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compactible reusable shopping bagdevised to compactly fold down to a folded stack approximately one-thirdthe area of one of the bag's longitudinal sides when in the expandedposition. The present compactible reusable shopping bag has been devisedto match a large capacity in-use with multiple means of portingitems—fewer items may be ported in the bag by a user holding a pair ofhandle loops, for example. At full capacity the bag can be ported overthe shoulder by addition of a shoulder strap. Items may be ported in thebag by a user carrying the bag by a pair of handles in a typicalfashion. The bag is thus adaptable to carry fewer or more items, despitethe bag's intentionally large capacity.

The present compactible reusable shopping bag has been devised oflightweight, durable polymers to resist degradation over time withrepeated use carrying heavy and edged items (such as, for example, tinsand cans of foodstuffs, groceries, books, and other such items as arefrequently purchased and brought into the home). The present compactiblereusable shopping bag further comprises materials devised to resistdegradation by exposure to the elements, such as temperature variations,direct sunlight, and weather, as will often occur with repeated use inand out of the home and when left, for example, visibly exposed in avehicle.

The present compactible reusable shopping bag further compacts down intoa conveniently storable folded stack. Reinforcing elements disposedwithin or upon the bag's transverse sides are stackable atop one anotherwhen each transverse side is folded inwards along a vertical fold. Thebag is then foldable by action of a Z-fold or a U-fold, in variousembodiments, into a stack having an area approximately one-third thearea of one of the longitudinal sides when expanded. The reinforcingelements enable securement of the bag in the folded stack and provide astiff basis for purchase when folding the bag and when storing it (suchas, for example, when sliding it into and out of a seat pocket). Inexample embodiments, the bag is securable in the folded stack by actionof the handles engaged around the stack. In another embodiment the stackis securable folded together by action of fasteners disposed to engagethe stack together.

Thus, the present invention presents a compactible reusable shopping bagdevised to incentivize reuse on shopping trips wherein various items andquantities of items are desirously purchased and ported home.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the compactible reusable shopping bag, describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a convenient and readilystorable reusable shopping bag, to incentive reuse of said shopping bag,and enable compact storage in a vehicle, in the home, or upon theperson. The present compactible reusable shopping bag further providesthree distinct modes of carriage for use when porting differingquantities of items or for convenience when porting different items.

It is well known that plastic bags have become an environmental scourge.Plastic bags are now found in every ocean on Earth and comprise banks ofdrifting trash that cover tens of thousands of square miles. The greatpacific garbage patch alone is estimated to be twice the size of Texas,or three times the size of France. Presently it is estimated thatanywhere from 1.15 to 2.41 million metric tons of plastic waste entersthe oceans annually.

Many municipalities, counties, states, and even countries are moving toban single-use plastic bags or at least tax or disincentivize theirusage by means of a surcharge. Reusable bags are now encouraged forshoppers everywhere. A principal issue with reusable bags, however, isneglecting to bring them on the shopping errand, thereby necessitatingpayment for a plastic bag or the purchase of another reusable bag.

Additionally, the shape and form of most reusable bags seen in the artmakes storing them tidily nearly impossible, and heaps of bags typicallylitter the inside of people's vehicles. Bags are also stuffedunceremoniously inside other bags. Uneven wear, wrinkling, entanglement,and other such issues generally arise requiring repurchase of a new,reusable shopping bag. This rather defeats the purpose and intent of areusable bag; longevity should be a primary characteristic; and easystorage for use and reuse should be enabled to incentivize adoption.

The present invention, therefore, seeks to incentivize use of reusableshopping bags by providing a compactible reusable shopping bag thatfolds down to a compact, folded form, comprising a discrete unitconvenient for storage in the vehicle or on the person. Additionally,the compact folded position of the present bag enables storage ofmultiple bags without sacrificing too much space in the glove box, say,in the trunk, or elsewhere in the vehicle (such as seat pockets, forexample). A user is readily apprised of how many bags are availablebecause the folded bag occupies a discrete, visually determinable unit,herein termed a “stack”. The bag includes a stiffness, imparted byreinforcing elements in or upon the transverse sides, enabling purchaseand position of the bag, such as when sliding the stack into a seatpocket, for example, or stacking stacks together in another bag or inthe glove box, say.

By providing a compact, storable reusable shopping bag, foldable into adiscrete stack, keeping a plurality of bags in the vehicle or in anothershopping bag, for example, is incentivized and facilitated whereby auser has a reusable shopping bag at hand when necessary. Such a bag mustbe lightweight, readily portable yet durable and strong enough torepeatedly port groceries and/or other goods over space and time as wellas persist over prolonged exposure to the elements (such as being leftin direct sunlight, for example, in a user's vehicle).

The present compactible reusable shopping bag, therefore, has beendevised to maximize portability, volume, capacity, durability, andcompactability, and has been devised to be foldable down to a foldedstack that occupies an area one-third the size of the bag profile andless than 1″ to 1.5″ thick. The bag is devised to be lightweight, yetstrong enough to hold and suspend a quantity of groceries and/or othergoods filling its capacity (including edged and hard goods, such as tinsand cans, for example), and to be durable enough to withstand multipleuses and exposure to weather during use and storage. The compactiblereusable shopping bag is contemplated to be made of a lightweight,durable, impermeable polymeric fabric such as silnylon, polyester coatedwith polyurethane, or polyethylene, or a laminated woven sheet material,or other lightweight, durable, impermeable material.

For the purposes of this disclosure, a “Z-fold” is taken to be a type offold that folds a body into a stack of thirds, with each of a firstthird and a final third being folded in opposite directions to overlieand underlie a central third respectively.

A “U-fold”, conversely, is taken to be a type of fold that folds a bodyinto a stack of thirds by folding each of a first third and a finalthird atop a central third by folding in the same direction.

The compactible reusable shopping bag set forth herein includes an opentop and a bottom perimetrically bounded by a plurality of sides disposedto surround an interior space. For simplicity of description, theplurality of sides comprises an outside surface, an inside surface, anda height. The plurality of sides further comprises a pair oflongitudinal sides and a pair of transverse sides. To enable compactfolding down to the folded stack, as will be described subsequently,each of the pair of transverse sides is two-thirds the length of each ofthe pair of longitudinal sides.

Each of the pair of longitudinal sides includes a first vertical folddisposed between the open top and the bottom approximately one-third ofthe length along each said longitudinal side. A second vertical fold islikewise disposed between the open top and the bottom at approximatelytwo-thirds of the length of each said longitudinal side. The firstvertical fold and the second vertical fold thus partition eachlongitudinal side into thirds

-   -   a first third, a central third, and a final third—and enable, in        one embodiment, a Z-fold of the longitudinal sides to stack the        thirds compactly together, as will be described hereinbelow; and        in another embodiment, a U-fold to stack the thirds compactly        together, as will also be described hereinbelow.

Each of the pair of transverse sides is two-thirds the length of each ofthe pair of longitudinal sides. Each transverse side is bisected by avertical fold disposed from the open top to the bottom. Each transverseside includes a pair of reinforcing elements disposed reinforcing eachtransverse side; one of said pair of planar reinforcing elementsdisposed on either side of the vertical fold. Each of the transversesides is therefore foldable inwards, so that the outside surface of eachof the two halves is caused to contact each other, whereby the pair ofreinforcing elements is therefore stacked together. Folding thetransverse sides inwards stacks each pair of reinforcing elementstogether and creates firm planar areas sandwiched in between the firstthirds and the final thirds of the longitudinal sides around which tofold the longitudinal sides and, ultimately, in at least one exampleembodiment, to engage the handles when securing the bag in the foldedstack.

The collapsed transverse sides therefore create rigid areas usable in atleast one embodiment to effectuate the Z-fold of the longitudinal sidesand position the reinforcing elements stacked together with the centralthird in between the first and final thirds. Alternatively, thecollapsed transverse sides create rigid areas usable to effectuate theU-fold, disposing the first and final third atop the central third. Insuch embodiments, the bag is collapsed and folded into a planar areaone-third the size of the bag's profile. The bag is then secured tautlyin this folded position by action of the bag's handles, as will bedescribed below, engaged around the stack and secured by connection atthe bottom of the folded stack or, alternatively, by action of fastenersdisposed to secure the stack in the folded position, as will bedescribed subsequently. The reinforcing elements thus maintain a usefulrigidity that is redoubled by stacking the said reinforcing elementstogether, first by folding each transverse side inward, and second byfolding the bag in either a Z-fold or a U-fold to stack all thereinforcing elements atop one another. Thus, the rigidity of the stackis approximately four times as rigid as the transverse sides when in theexpanded position.

For portage, the bag includes a pair of handles and a pair of handleloops, adapted for porting the bag in separate ways; and, in the case ofthe handles, in an example embodiment contemplated herein, for securingthe bag in the folded position by securement of the handles tautlyengaged around the folded stack and engaged at the stack's foldedbottom.

In one embodiment, then, each of the pair of handles has a lengthapproximately twice the height of the plurality of sides. In thisinstance, the handles are contemplated to secure the bag and maintainits position in the folded stack in a plurality of ways. In oneembodiment, each of the pair of handles is connected to both of the pairof longitudinal sides at the open top in parallel to the transversesides. One of the handles is attached to each longitudinal side atop thefirst third, proximal the first vertical fold, and the other of thehandles is attached to each longitudinal side atop the final third,proximal the second vertical fold. When the bag is folded to the foldedstack, therefore, one end of each handle is necessarily disposed on theoutermost portions of the folded stack, and the other end of each handleis disposed on one side of the central third folded interiorly withinthe folded stack. This enables securement of the bag in the foldedposition by engagement of the handles inverted around the stack, engagedat the bottom edge of the folded stack. Thus, additional to facilitatingcarriage of the bag, in this and other example embodiments, the pair ofhandles is usable to secure the bag in the folded position for compactstorage and portage before and after use.

In another embodiment, each of the pair of the handles is disposed uponone of the pair of longitudinal sides at the open top, in parallel withthe longitudinal sides. In this embodiment, the handles engage aroundthe folded stack by diagonally wrapping around opposite sides of thefolded stack and engage cornerwise at the stack's folded bottom. Inanother embodiment contemplated (but not shown), the handles are engagedat the bottom of the folded stack by attachment to an attachment member,such as a hook and loop fastener, for example, or other fastener. Inthis embodiment, the handles are turned 180° to engage against theattachment member disposed at the bottom edge of the folded stack.Additional means of utilizing the handles to secure the folded stacktightly are contemplated as part of this invention.

In still another example embodiment, use of the handles to secure thebag in the folded stack is omitted, and a first and second fastener aredisposed to engage with each of a respective first and second fasteningreceiving element. The stack is formable by folding in each of a Z-foldand a U-fold, depending on the type of securement intended (i.e.engagement of the handles or use of fasteners and fastening receivingelements) as will be detailed hereinbelow in discussion of theaccompanying drawings.

The pair of handle loops is disposed upon the pair of transverse sidesat the open top. The pair of handle loops comprises a second length.Each of the pair of handle loops is devised to enable convenient portageof the bag when containing few items. Porting the bag by the handleloops effectively brings the transverse sides together and encloses theopen top by fanning out the longitudinal sides. This creates a morecompact carry that positions the bag in such a way as to preventsignificant movement of fewer items ported therein. The handle loops arealso connectable to a shoulder strap enabling over-arm carriage, whendesired, as for example when carrying a lot of items at the bag'scapacity. This is particularly useful for users who walk to the store,such as users who live in urban areas and forgo use of private vehicles.

It is further contemplated that, in some embodiments, the instantcompactible reusable shopping bag is reversible and usable inside-out.In such embodiments, the instant compactible reusable shopping bag mayincorporate bold designs and slogans displayable when the bag is usedoutside-out and inside-out. Further, in at least some embodimentscontemplated herein, the present compactible reusable shopping bag iscontemplated to be machine washable.

Thus, has been broadly outlined the more important features of thepresent compactible reusable shopping bag so that the detaileddescription thereof that follows may be better understood and in orderthat the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Objects of the present compactible reusable shopping bag, along withvarious novel features that characterize the invention are particularlypointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For betterunderstanding of the compactible reusable shopping bag, its operatingadvantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to theaccompanying drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figures

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a longitudinal side of an exampleembodiment of the compactible reusable hopping bag.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an example embodiment showing eachof a pair of handles attached in a transverse orientation.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an example embodiment of thecompactible reusable shopping bag flattened with each of a pair oftransverse sides folded inwards.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an example embodiment of the compactiblereusable shopping bag secured in a folded stack by engagement of a pairof handles around the folded bottom of the stack.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of an example embodiment of the compactiblereusable shopping bag secured in a folded stack by engagement of a pairof handles around the folded bottom of the stack.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of an example embodiment of the compactiblereusable shopping bag secured in a folded stack by engagement of a pairof handles around the folded bottom showing each handle enwrappingone-half of the top of the folded stack.

FIG. 7 is an elevation in-use view of an example embodiment beingcarried by a pair of handle loops instead of by the pair of handles,useful for porting fewer items in an interior space.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view illustrating effectuating a Z-fold of anexample embodiment, from an expanded position to the folded stackapproximately one-third the area of the bag's profile.

FIG. 9 is an in-use elevation view of an example embodiment illustratingthe pair of handles disposed in a longitudinal orientation.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of thecompactible reusable shopping bag having each of the pair of handlesdisposed attached to one of the pair of longitudinal sides.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of one of the pair of handles of anexample embodiment illustrating a twist disposed therein to enablesecurement of the handle around the folded stack with the handle lainflush against the stack.

FIGS. 12 to 17 illustrate an example embodiment of the compactiblereusable shopping bag secured in a folded stack by engagement of a pairof handles engaged diagonally around the folded stack.

FIGS. 18 to 26 illustrate an example embodiment of the compactiblereusable shopping bag folded in a U-fold for securement in the foldedstack by action of a first and second fastener.

FIG. 27 illustrates an example embodiment in-use and ported by means ofa shoulder strap attached to each of a pair of handle loops disposedupon the transverse sides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 27thereof, example of the instant compactible reusable shopping bagemploying the principles and concepts of the present compactiblereusable shopping bag and generally designated by the reference number10 will be described.

The compactible shopping bag 10 is collapsible to a folded stack 100 forcompact storage and portage. Several example embodiments of the instantcompactible reusable shopping bag 10 are contemplated and illustratedherein. In all embodiments depicted herein, the compactible reusableshopping bag 10 includes a bottom 20, an open top 22, and a plurality ofsides 50 (comprising a pair of longitudinal sides 52 and a pair oftransverse sides 54) bounding an interior space 24. In all embodiments,the bag 10 is made of a lightweight, impermeable polymer such assilnylon, polyester coated with polyurethane, or polyethylene, or of alaminated woven sheet material, or other lightweight, durable, andimpermeable polymer. The purpose of the material is to render alightweight, portable, durable fabric that is impermeable to liquids andlong-lasting with repeated usage.

The bag 10 further includes an outside surface 26 and an inside surface28. A pair of handles 70 is disposed, in alternative embodiments,spanning the open top 22 attached endwise to each of the pair oflongitudinal sides 52 in parallel with the transverse sides 54 (see forexample FIGS. 1 through 6) and, in an another embodiment, disposedlongitudinally upon each of the pair of longitudinal sides 52 (as shownfor example in FIGS. 9 and 10). The handles 70 have a lengthapproximately twice the height of the bag 10. As will be shown, theposition of the pair of handles 70 upon the longitudinal sides 52affects how the bag 10 is securable in a folded stack 100 by engagementof the pair of handles 70 wrapped around the folded stack 100.

A pair of handle loops 72 is also included to enable carriage of the bagwith fewer items therein and for interconnection with a shoulder strap74 when porting the bag at capacity. One of the said pair of handleloops 72 is disposed upon each transverse side 54 at the open top 22.The pair of handle loops 72 enables carriage of the bag 10 in analternative manner (see for example FIG. 7), useful when the bag 10contains fewer items, for example, and alternatively the pair of handleloops 72 may be employed to port the bag 10 over the shoulder byinterconnection with a shoulder strap 74 (see for example FIG. 27). Eachof the pair of handle loops 72 is disposed connected at the reinforcedtopmost seam 56 to resist separation over prolonged use of the bag,particularly when frequently porting items long distances.

In all embodiments, the transverse sides 54 include a vertical fold 64disposed bisecting each said transverse side 54 from the open top 22 tothe bottom 20. Each said vertical fold 64 is disposed to fold inwards,into the interior space 24, to collapse the bag 10 transversely byfolding the transverse sides 54 in half and causing the pair oflongitudinal sides 52 to approximate each other. A pair of reinforcingelements 66 is disposed upon (or within) each transverse side 54, one ofthe said pair of reinforcing elements 66 disposed on either side of thevertical fold 64. These reinforcing elements 66 may be planar in extent,approximately half the size of each transverse side 54, and collectivelyprovide purchase to enact the folding of the bag 10 to the folded stack100 thereabouts and to secure the stack 100 by action of the handles 70as will be described subsequently.

The transverse sides 54 are proportionately two-thirds the size of thelongitudinal sides 52. When the transverse sides 54 are folded in half,therefore, and the bag 10 is collapsed across the interior space 24 tobring the longitudinal sides 52 in close proximity (see for example FIG.8), the folded transverse sides 54 present an area one-third the size ofthe longitudinal sides 52. Folding the transverse sides 54 in halfstacks the reinforcing elements 66 disposed on (or within) eachtransverse side 54 atop each other and provides a stiff basis forfolding the bag 10 into the folded stack 100 by action of a Z-fold or,alternatively, a U-fold. Further, the reinforcing elements 66, whenstacked together in the manner described, provide a level of stiffnessof the folded stack 100 that enables securement of the bag 10 in thefolded stack 100 by securement of the pair of handles 70 tautly engagedthereabouts, as will be set forth hereinbelow. It should be noted thatalternative embodiments of the present compactible reusable shopping bag10 present varied means of securement of the bag 10 in the folded stack100 for compact storage and portage, as will be set forth hereinbelow.

Folding of the compactible reusable shopping bag 10 into the stack 100is accomplished in one of two ways: by action of a Z-fold or a U-fold,depending on the embodiment contemplated. Some embodiments are foldablein either manner, however it is to be noted that the type of fold(either Z-fold or U-fold) effects the manner in which the pair ofhandles 70 secure the folded stack 100 in the folded position dependingon which orientation of handles 70 is practiced as part of theinvention.

As shown in FIGS. 18 through 25, in at least one embodiment contemplatedherein, the bag 10 is securable in the folded stack 100 by action offasteners 90, 92 disposed to secure around the transverse edges of thefolded stack 100. In this at least one embodiment, the position of thefasteners 90, 92 dictates the type of fold employed to present thefolded stack 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, an example embodiment of the presentcompactible reusable shopping bag 10 is illustrated having each of thepair of handles 70 attached to each of a pair of longitudinal sides 52in parallel with a pair of transverse sides 54. That is, the pair ofhandles 70 is oriented transversely spanning the open top 22. As shownin FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, with the pair of handles 70 disposed orientedtransversely spanning the open top 22, and connected endwise to eachlongitudinal side 52, the compactible shopping bag 10 may be secured inthe folded stack 100 with each of the pair of handles 70 inverted andengaged around the folded bottom of the stack 100 in parallel. As shownin FIG. 8, in contemplating this embodiment, the bag 10 is folded intothirds by a Z-fold to form the folded stack 100. The pair of handles 70is then inverted to secure around the folded bottom of the stack 100 andmaintain the bag in the folded position.

FIG. 1 illustrates the present compactible reusable shopping bag 10 inan elevation view. The pair of handles 70 are shown suspended within theinterior space 24. Thus FIG. 1 can be interpreted to depict an exampleembodiment where the pair of handles 70 are connected either in thetransverse orientation (as shown in FIG. 2) or the longitudinalorientation (as shown in FIG. 10). FIG. 1 therefore depicts an exampleembodiment illustrating the features of the bag 10 common to multipleexample embodiments. The handles 70 and handle loops 72 are disposedattached at the open top 22 to a reinforced topmost seam 56 disposed tostrengthen the connection thereat.

FIG. 1 further illustrates a first vertical fold 60 and a secondvertical fold 62 disposed upon the visible longitudinal side 52 thatdivide the longitudinal side 52 into thirds—a first third 80, a centralthird 82, and a final third 84. Ends of the handles 70 are attached tothe topmost seam 56 approximate the first vertical folds 60 and secondvertical folds 62 of each said longitudinal side 52.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top elevation view with the pair of handles 70disposed in the transverse orientation. The interior space 24 is visibleenclosed by the plurality of sides 50. The vertical fold 64 bisectingeach transverse side 54 is visible. Reinforcing elements 66, disposedupon or within each transverse side 54, are shown in dotted lines.Handle loops 72 on the transverse sides 54 enable portage, wheredesirable, as shown in FIG. 7 or by interconnection with shoulder strap74, as shown in FIG. 26.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view depicting the compactible reusableshopping bag 10 with the transverse sides 54 folded inwards and the bag10 collapsed to place the longitudinal sides 52 proximate to each other.Each transverse side 54 is two-thirds the size of each longitudinal side52 whereby the folded transverse sides 54, folded inwards, present anarea one-third the size of each longitudinal sides 52. Thus, one of thetransverse sides 54 occupies an area in between the first third 80 ofeach longitudinal side 52 and the other of the transverse sides 54occupies an area in between the final third 84 of each of thelongitudinal sides 52. The central third 82 of each longitudinal side 52is therefore rendered approximate each other. The reinforcing elements66 disposed in or upon each transverse side 54 therefore present a stiffbasis within each of the first third 80 and the final third 84 forpurchase in effectuating folding of the bag 10, as well as providing abasis around which the handles 70 engage, as shown in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 4 through 6 show the compactible reusable shopping bag 10 disposedin the folded stack 100. Due to the handles' 70 orientation, the stack100 here depicted was folded in a Z-fold. Each of the pair of handles 70presents one end on the outside of the folded stack 100 and the otherend within the folded stack 100. Each handle 70 is thence invertible totautly secure around the stack 100 folded bottom in the manner shown inFIG. 5. Because one end of each handle 70 is disposed interior to thefolded stack 100, the top 22 of the folded stack 100 is likewiseenwrapped between each handle 70 (see for example FIG. 6). Thisarrangement ensures the stack 100 is secured at both top 22 and bottom20 by the handles 70.

FIG. 8 illustrates the manner of forming the folded stack 100 by actionof a Z-fold. The bag 10 is first collapsed by folding the transversesides 54 inwards along the vertical fold 64 to bring each of thelongitudinal sides 52 together. The final third 84 of the longitudinalsides 52 is then folded in a first direction to overlie the centralthird 82. Then the first third 80 is folded in a second directionopposite the first direction to position the first third 80 overlyingthe other side of the central third 82. The handles 70 are then invertedto engage around the stack 100.

FIG. 9 illustrates an in-use view of an example embodiment of thepresent compatible reusable shopping bag 10 with the pair of handles 70disposed in the longitudinal orientation. In this example embodiment,the bag 10 is filled with books to illustrate the capacity and strengthof the bag 10 despite its lightweight and compactible materials.Reinforced lowermost seam 58 reduces the possibility of separation ofthe plurality of sides 50 from the bottom 20 and reinforced topmost seam56 strengthens the securement of the handles 70 in place at the open top22 of each longitudinal side 52 thereby ensuing durability over repeateduse porting heavy loads (as depicted).

FIG. 10 illustrates an elevation view of an example embodiment of thepresent compactible reusable shopping bag 10 with the handles 70 in thelongitudinal orientation. In this embodiment, a twist 76 is illustratedin the handle 70 to enable flush fitting of the handles 70 securedaround the folded stack 100 when folded in a Z-fold (also shown in FIG.11). It should be noted that this twist 76 is not necessary to allembodiments of the invention 10 contemplated herein, such as, forexample, when the bag 10 is folded via a U-fold, for example, or wherefasteners are used to secure the stack 100 additionally to the handles70, as shown in FIGS. 18 through 25, for example, or where the handles70 are disposed in the transverse configuration.

FIGS. 12 through 17 illustrate securement of the folded stack 100 whereeach of the pair of handles 70 is disposed in the longitudinalorientation. The handles 70 secure diagonally around the stack 100 andengage at the folded bottom 20 proximal a corner of the stack 100. Asset forth hereinabove, where a Z-fold is used to fold the bag 10 intothe stack 100, the handles 70 may include a twist 76 (see for exampleFIG. 11). This twist 76 allows the handles 70 to press flush againstboth sides of the folded stack 100 and accommodates engagement aroundthe bottom 20 of the folded stack 100 without the handles 70 crimping orpresenting a twist as would otherwise occur absent inclusion of thetwist 76. See for example FIGS. 12, 13, and 14. As set forth above, thistwist 76 is not necessary to all embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 15, and 16, the top 22 of the folded stack 100 issecured enwrapped by the pair of handles 70; one end of each handle 70is disposed within the folded stack 100, and the other is disposed onthe outside of the folded stack 100. Thus, each handle 70 securesovertop of at least half of the top 20 of the stack 100. As shown inFIG. 17, this embodiment further enables wrapping of each handle 70around sides of the folded stack 100.

FIGS. 18 through 26 illustrate an example embodiment of the presentinvention 10 securable in the folded stack 100 by action of fasteners90, 92 disposed to secure around sides of the folded stack 100. In theexample embodiment depicted, the fasteners 90, 92 are contemplated to behook and loop fasteners and fastening receiving elements, howeveradditional and other fastening elements are contemplated as within scopeof the invention 10. In the embodiment depicted, the stack 100 is formedby effectuating a U-fold and then securing the stack 100 by engagingeach fastener 90, 92 to a corresponding fastening receiving element 94,96. It should be noted that the position of the fasteners 90, 92 and thefastening receiving elements 94, 96 may vary between embodiments, suchas where the stack 100 is formed by action of a Z-fold, for example.Thus, the present explanation given in regard to FIGS. 18 through 26herein is exemplary and not necessarily definitive or intended to beexclusionary.

A first fastener 90 and a second fastener 92 are disposed upon the firstthird 80 of one of the longitudinal sides 52 approximate the juncturewith the corresponding transverse side 54. The first fastener 90 isdisposed proximal the open top 22, the second fastener 92 is disposedproximal the bottom 20. As best shown in FIGS. 18, 21, and 22, each ofthe first and second fasteners 90, 92 is disposed to project a portionoverhanging the associated transverse side 54. When the bag 10 is in theexpanded position for use, the first and second fastener 90, 92 may bestowed engaged to receiving elements 98 and 99 disposed upon theassociated transverse side 54 (see for example FIGS. 19 and 20).

A first fastening receiving element 94 is disposed upon the longitudinalside 52 coaxial with the first fastener 90 on the central third 82proximal the second vertical fold 62. A second fastening receivingelement 96 is likewise disposed upon the longitudinal side 52 on thecentral third 82 proximal the second vertical fold 62 and coaxial withthe second fastener 92. When the bag 10 is folded to the stack 100 byaction of a U-fold, the first and second fastening receiving elements94, 96 are thus positioned proximal to the first and second fasteningelements 90, 92 which are readily attachable thereto to secure thefolded stack 100 together. In the example embodiment depicted, thehandles 70 are placed upon the central third 82 before the first andfinal thirds 80, 84 are folded atop one another, thereby stowing thehandles 70 interior to the stack 100. Alternatively, the handles 70 maybe secured round the stack 100 as in previously discussed embodiments.Thus, to present the folded stack 100, the bag is first collapsed byfolding in the transverse sides 54 as in the previous embodiments. Withthe other longitudinal side 52 b facing the user, the final third 84 bis folded inwards to overlie the central third 82 b. First third 80 b isthence folded atop final third 84 b. Outer surfaces of the folded stacknow comprise longitudinal side 52, and first third 80 and central third82. This U-fold thus places fasteners 90 and 92 proximally to fasteningreceiving elements 94 and 96. Fasteners 90 and 92 thus secure over theside of the stack 100 to secure the stack 100 in the folded position.FIG. 25 illustrates edge of the stack 100 secured by the fasteners 90and 92. FIG. 26 shows the other edge of the folded stack 100, which isthe first vertical fold 60 of the bag 10.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compactible reusable shopping bag collapsibleto a folded stack from an expanded position, said compactible reusableshopping bag comprising: a bottom; an open top; a plurality of sidesperimetrically disposed upon the bottom to surround an interior space,said plurality of sides having an outside surface, an inside surface,and a height, said plurality of sides further comprising: a pair oflongitudinal sides, each of said pair of longitudinal sides having: afirst third; a central third; a final third; a first vertical folddisposed between the open top and the bottom between the first andcentral third; a second vertical fold disposed between the central thirdand the final third; a pair of transverse sides, each of said pair oftransverse sides having: each of a pair of planar reinforcing elementsdisposed at either side of a vertical fold, said vertical fold disposedbisecting each transverse side from the open top to the bottom; a pairof handles disposed upon the pair of longitudinal sides at the open top;and each of a pair of handle loops disposed upon one of the pair oftransverse sides at the open top; wherein the compactible reusableshopping bag is foldable to a compact, storable, and portable size byfirst folding each transverse side in half inwardly towards the interiorspace such that the inside surface of each transverse side is caused tocontact the inside surface of each longitudinal side, and then foldingthe pair of longitudinal sides at the first vertical fold and thenfolding the pair of longitudinal sides at the second vertical fold, topresent a compact stack.
 2. The compactible reusable shopping bag ofclaim 1 wherein the pair of handle loops is usable to port the bag bybringing the pair of transverse sides together, for porting fewer itemswithin the interior space, and alternatively, by means of a shoulderstrap connected to the pair of handle loops to enable over-the-shoulderportage of the bag.
 3. The compactible reusable shopping bag of claim 2wherein the transverse sides are two-thirds the length of thelongitudinal sides whereby folding one of the pair of transverse sidesinwards presents the vertical fold therein conjunct the first verticalfold of the pair of longitudinal sides and whereby folding the other ofthe pair of transverse sides in like manner presents the vertical foldtherein conjunct the second vertical fold of the pair of longitudinalsides, whereby folding the longitudinal sides at each of the first andsecond vertical folds positions each folded transverse side atop oneanother and the folded stack is one-third the area of one of the pair oflongitudinal sides.
 4. The compactible reusable shopping bag of claim 3wherein the pair of handles have a first length approximately the samelength as the height of the plurality of sides wherein the foldedshopping bag is compactly securable in the folded position by securingthe pair of handles engaged around the folded bottom of the stack. 5.The compactible reusable shopping bag of claim 4 wherein the pluralityof sides further comprises an upper edge bounding the open top, saidupper edge reinforced with a topmost seam.
 6. The compactible reusableshopping bag of claim 5 wherein the plurality of sides further comprisesa lower edge conjoined with the bottom, said lower edge reinforced witha lowermost seam.
 7. The compactible reusable shopping bag of claim 6wherein the bag is made of a polymeric fabric such as silnylon,polyester coated with polyurethane, or polyethylene, or of a laminatedwoven sheet material.
 8. The compactible reusable shopping bag of claim3 wherein the first vertical fold is foldable in a first direction andthe second vertical fold is foldable in a second direction opposite thefirst direction whereby the bag is foldable to the stack position byaction of a Z-fold.
 9. The compactible reusable shopping bag of claim 3wherein the first vertical fold is foldable in the same direction as thesecond vertical cold whereby the bag is foldable to the stack by actionof a U-fold.
 10. The compactible reusable shopping bag of claim 7wherein the reinforcing elements are polyethylene boards.
 11. Thecompactible reusable shopping bag of claim 3 wherein the bag isreversible and usable inside-out.
 12. The compactible reusable shoppingbag of claim 3 wherein the bag is machine washable.
 13. The compactiblereusable shopping bag of claim 3 wherein the bag further comprises: afirst fastener disposed upon the first third of one of the longitudinalsides proximal the open top and one of the pair of transverse sides; asecond fastener disposed upon the first third of the same longitudinalside as the first fastener, said second fastener disposed proximal thebottom; a first fastening receiving element disposed upon the samelongitudinal side as the first and second fasteners, said firstfastening receiving element disposed upon the central third proximal thesecond vertical fold coaxial with the first fastener and connectablethereto; and a second fastening receiving element disposed upon the samelongitudinal side as the first and second fasteners, said secondfastening receiving element disposed upon the central third proximal thesecond vertical fold coaxial with the second fastener and connectablethereto; wherein the compactible reusable shopping bag is securable inthe folded stack by securement of the first fastener to the firstfastening receiving element and by securement of the second fastener tothe second fastening receiving element.